Taking long trips with kids is not easy. In fact, many parents would rather spend more money on faster transport than plan a road trip with their children. Although this is more to do with their comfort during the drive, they sure can complain loudly. So how do you plan a trip in a cheap car rental with kids, and make it easier on yourself?
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Hire A Car That’s Big Enough For Everyone
Most of the time, when kids start moaning during a road trip, it’s because they’re feeling cramped. Kids need to exercise their muscles and expend excess energy. Now that they’re already excited to go on holiday, you need to make sure that they have enough space to be comfortable. And even though kids don’t like sitting still for more than an hour, they can handle it much more comfortably if they don’t have cooler boxes and luggage on the seat next to them. That’s why, when hiring a cheap car rental, make sure that you have enough space for everyone to be comfortable, and enough space to pack the luggage. You wouldn’t be happy to be squeezed up against baggage that didn’t fit in the boot, so don’t expect it of them!
Don’t Skimp On Accessories
If your child is still a toddler, don’t skimp on the expense of a car seat as an accessory. Even though you most likely have a car seat for your baby in your own vehicle, the one you get from a rental agency might be more comfortable. It will also be cleaned before you pick it up, so your toddler will have a cosy seat of their own that looks brand new. And if paying for a toddler’s seat means they’ll be happier in the car for longer; it’s a necessary expense.
Pack Entertainment
While children love singing the same songs over and over, you can entertain them in other ways. Driving in a car with young children for hours at a time can get frustrating for the parents as well, for this reason. However, it is easy to keep your kids entertained in the car if you pack enough entertainment. Pack games, books, and toys so that they can stay busy during the ride.
If you’re not opposed to letting them play with iPads and tablets, you can also ensure that these devices have enough charge in them to last for an hour or two of non-stop use. Keep in mind that child-friendly games and videos will drain the battery quickly, so make sure that this is not your children’s only form of entertainment! When the battery dies, they’ll need something else to keep them busy.
Bring Snacks That Travel Well
When packing for a trip, it’s possible to simply forget to pack snacks for the road. In the last-minute rush of making sure that your kids have kept their shoes on and you’ve remembered to pack the rental agreement for the rental car, you could rush past the snacks you’ve set aside for the ride. Without snacks for when they’re hungry or bored, you can guarantee that your children will not be happy. Remember to pack snacks that are also easy to travel with. You won’t want to make a mess inside the rental car, so any snack that is small, easy to hold and simple to clean up is a great idea.
Map Out The Journey
Although these days with GPS navigation technology, we don’t need to do much preparation anymore, it can still be helpful. While you’re driving to your beach house six hours away, you’ll still need to stop every two hours so that your kids can use a bathroom and stretch their legs. So, mapping out your trip ahead of time will help you feel more relaxed and in control of the journey. If you’re unprepared and arguing, young children can pick up on this atmosphere and get fussy. And even though most rental car agencies provide roadside assistance if you break down or get lost, you don’t want to be forced to call your rental company for help because you hadn’t mapped out the journey with the extra stops included.
Going on holiday with your family is a wonderful way to relax and spend time together, but it can be challenging if you’re travelling with kids. Because getting a cheap car rental is easier, you want to ensure that you have everything that you need for the trip, including car seats, snacks and entertainment for the kids.